Less, Fewer, Lie, Lay, Kind, Kinds
Less and fewer
Less refers to a quantity that cannot be counted. Fewer refers to a number that can be counted.
- I am eating less butter.
- We caught fewer fish.
- There were fewer children in the class than expected.
- We did less work today than yesterday.
- The use of seat belts in cars has led to fewer fatalities.
Lie and lay
The verbs lie and lay are often confused.
To lie means to rest. Examples are:
- I lie on the bed. (simple present)
- I am lying on the bed. (present progressive)
- I was lying on the bed. (past progressive)
- I lay on the bed. (simple past)
- I have lain on the bed. (present perfect)
To lie also means to not tell the truth. Examples are:
- I lie. (simple present)
- I am lying. (present progressive)
- I was lying. (past progressive)
- I lied. (simple past)
- I have lied. (present perfect)
To lay means to put something down. Examples are:
- I lay the book on the table. (simple present)
- I am laying the book on the table. (present progressive)
- I laid the book on the table. (past progressive)
- I was laying the book on the table. (simple past)
- I have laid the book on the table. (present perfect)
More examples are given below.
- Alice says she has already laid the table.
- The book was laid on the chest of drawers.
- While lying in bed, I had an idea.
- I would like to lie in the sun this morning.
Kind and kinds
The word kind is singular. It should be used with this or that to modify a singular noun. The word kinds is plural. It should be used with these or those to modify plural nouns.
- I like these kinds of apples. (NOT … these kind of apples.)
- That kind of coffee is not sold here. (NOT … that kind of coffees)
- Those are the kinds of days I like. (NOT Those are the kind of days …)
- This class of animal is rare.
Note that the same rule applies to other words – sort, type and class.
- Do you prefer this sort of meat pie? (NOT … this sort of meat pies?)
- These types of cars are very fast. (NOT These type of cars …)
